Exploring Religious Pluralism
Christopher C. Knight
March 31, 2024 DOI: 10.1017/9781009450249 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that religious pluralism can be better understood by combining new thinking about divine action with a 'mystical theology' that treats doctrines as contemplative aids rather than truth claims. Proposes a 'neo-perennialism' in which conflicts between faith traditions are confined to the exoteric dimension, preserving 'esoteric ecumenism,' while cautioning that methodological reasons may warrant hesitation before adopting full-blown pluralism. |
Abstract
How can we more deeply understand religious pluralism? In this study, Christopher C. Knight suggests that current explorations of religious pluralism may be supplemented by combining new thinking about divine action with the kind of 'mystical theology' that sees doctrinal statements as aids to contemplation rather than as philosophical truth claims. While Knight sees the 'perennialist' tradition of pluralistic thinking as deeply flawed, he nevertheless proposes that we can adopt a kind of neo-perennialism in which the supposed incompatibilities of different faith traditions may still be seen in the way that perennialists have usually considered them: as relating only to the exotericdimension of religious faith and practice. In this way, he suggests, the perennialist notion of esoteric ecumenism may still be valid. He cautions, nevertheless, that at a methodological level, there may be defensible reasons to hesitate before adopting a full-blown pluralism of this kind.